A second round of negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli officials was overshadowed Monday by Palestinian threats not to address substantive issues until Israel agrees to stop settlement construction around Jerusalem.

By PBS News Hour

Israeli troops launched air strikes against Gaza Wednesday, in response to the Palestinian abduction of a wounded Israeli soldier. Destroying three Palestinian bridges and a power station, troops crossed the Gaza border for the first time since the Israeli withdrawal…

Hamas has reached an agreement that ended a political stalemate with the rival Fatah Party. Hamas denied earlier reports that this deal implicitly recognized Israel's right to exist.